To succeed in today’s competitive business world, employees need a manager with strong leadership skills to motivate them and set them up for success. In fact, there is a growing need for effective leadership, and organizations are taking note. A recent study showed 83% of companies and institutions prioritize the development of leaders at every level.
What is a good leader? Which skills and qualities does a person need in order to lead effectively? Graduates of Fitchburg State University’s online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management program have the necessary skills to serve as effective leaders in a variety of roles and industries.
What Makes a Good Leader in the Workplace?
Great leaders manage tasks efficiently and effectively, but that’s not all. They build strong teams filled with employees possessing a range of skills. Effective leaders also manage and motivate those teams to meet organizational goals. According to Indeed, these are the top skills strong leaders should develop:
- Communication: Managers must be able to share strategies, plans, timelines and feedback with precision and clarity.
- Emotional intelligence: Emotional intelligence helps leaders build strong relationships with team members, understand what they need and manage tough situations with empathy.
- Decision-making: Making decisions is part of strong leadership. Strong decision-making skills include evaluating multiple options and considering the potential impacts of their decisions.
- Adaptability: It’s important for leaders to be flexible and open to fresh ideas, whether that means shifting strategies, going outside their comfort zones or adjusting to new technologies.
- Integrity: For a team to be strong, team members must trust one another. Managers must operate with fairness and honesty to build trust and set a positive example for others.
- Team building: Building a cohesive and motivated team is a key function of leadership. This involves recognizing each individual’s strengths, encouraging collaboration among team members and creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard.
- Vision: A strong leader must have a vision for the future and be able to inspire and motivate others to work towards that vision.
- Conflict resolution: Tensions and issues come up in every workplace. Great leaders understand that sometimes conflict is positive. When managed properly, healthy conflict can be an opportunity for colleagues to better understand one another’s perspectives and thought processes.
- Mentorship: To be a great leader, a manager or leader needs their own mentor and to mentor others. Focusing on their own opportunities for growth while offering guidance and support to others helps leaders improve and encourage team members to reach their full potential.
- Negotiation: Leaders often need executive buy-in to get their team more resources, extended timelines or revised goals. Effective leaders advocate for their team and present their cases in a way that persuades others to support their requests.
Strategies for Leadership Success
Many types of theories have influenced current leadership behaviors. Future business leaders must understand the various theories and their foundation in order to implement the approach that works best for their teams, work and organizational goals.
Fitchburg State’s online MBA in Management offers a Management Theory and Process course, which helps students gain knowledge of modern management influences. The program’s Leadership and Culture course also teaches the theories and practices of effective leadership in depth. The following are leadership concepts and strategies that managers can implement in the real world:
- “Great man” theories: According to this type of theory, leaders are born with inherent traits that make them natural leaders. These theories have been largely debunked, but leaders can focus on fostering people’s natural strengths.
- Trait theories: These focus on identifying specific personality traits (like confidence, intelligence, and charm) associated with successful leaders.
- Contingency theories: According to contingency theories, effective leaders adapt their style to meet what’s required in each specific situation and balance their behavior to suit team needs and current demands.
- Situational theories: Similar to contingency theories, situational theories suggest that different situations require different styles of leadership. Leaders need the ability to identify the style that will solve the problem currently being assessed.
- Behavioral theories: Strong leadership is based on learned behaviors rather than a born leader’s traits or characteristics. According to these theories, leaders can develop skills through experience, training and observation, arguing anyone can become an effective leader, as long as they put in the effort.
Gain Management Skills Through an Online MBA in Management
Leaders who know how to communicate, mentor, negotiate, act with integrity and build strong teams are most likely to succeed and motivate others to do the same. That’s why the online MBA in Management program from Fitchburg State focuses on helping students develop these qualities.
This program offers a comprehensive approach to building these skills, focusing on graduating professionals who are well prepared to take on leadership roles in their careers. If you’re looking to become a leader and excel in your career, these are the skills to develop.
Learn more about Fitchburg State University’s online MBA in Management program.
